Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-01-13
A BAD RAILWAY WRECK.
A Passenger and Freight Train in Col
lision Through CareleSSnesS.
Nineteen People Roasted Alive. and
Many More Injured Seriously.

TIFFIN, Ohio, Jan. Am east-bound
freight, drawn by engine No. 1875, while
running on an upgrade nine miles east
of here, and within half mile of the vii
lage of Republic, gave out and was I'M
able to make the grade. The conductor
ran forward with signal to flag the fast
rain, No. 5, of the Baltimore d Ohio,
which left New York at a. N. yesterday
for Chicago, but it was too late. The
fast train was less than a quarter of a
mile distant, running at the rate of sixty
three miles per hour and it crashed into
the freight, wrecking both engines and
the baggage, express, smoking and one
passenger car of the passenger train.
Within an almost increditable short space
OF time the wreck was in flames and the
in jured passengers were being burned
The passengers in the two sleepers and
one coach escaped, numbering about if
ty. Nineteen passengers in the smoker
were all killed. One, an Irish migrant
alone escaped from the smoker, but af-
terward died of his wounds. He did
not give his name. The engineer of the
passenger jumped and escaped with a
dislocated knee. The fireman was pin
ned between two beams, crushing his
hips. He lived three mortal hours in
that position and then died. Nine char
red and blackened bodies, with the limbs
burned off, were removed and laid in
row on the floor of the undertaker's room.
The sight was horrible one and there
was no resemblance to human bodies in
the remains, a least ten more are sup
posed to have persisted and been entirely
burned up. There is nothing around the
bodies which can help to identify them.
Among those who persisted we're:
Joseph POstlethwaite, aged 81 and his
two sons, Spencer and Henry, aged Is
and II respectively. He was from New
Martinsville, W. Va, and was accompan-
led by his wife and three other small
children, the four latter being saved. They
were on their way to Ch1llicothe, Mo-, to
make that their home. All of Posthleth-
and was burned.
ington, D. c., prominent Knight of
Labor on his way West to lecture, was
held by the feet in the car, his body pro-
truding from the window. It was i'm
possible to extrieate him, and he was
burned to death by inches. He gave his
watch and papers into the safekeeping
of others.
Baggagelnaster w. F. Gates, of New
ark, was the only man in his car, and he
was hurt in both legs, being badly cut by
splinteEs, and had an iron rod run throug
one leg.
Pierce, the express messenger, was
burned to crisp in his car.
M. II. Parks, whose address he did not
give when he bought his ticket, was
found wedged in the wreck and burn ed
to death. He had previously handed his
money and letters to one of the railroad
His body was entirely con-
as were also those of several 9th
ers whose names are not known and per-
haps never will be.
A. Mr. Smith, o. Benwood, w. Va, was
in the car next to the SD oker and was I'M
hurt He says that the shock was not a
very great one. He was thrown from his
seat and thought the train had left the
track. Nobody was very seriously hurt in
his coach beyond severe bruises, cuts and
burns.
Physicians were summoned from this
city and from Republic, and rendered eff
ficient services to the wounded. About
dozen persons were wounded in addition |
to those of the killed, not mentioned |
above, and have not been Identified. |
Prominent railway officials were present
and investigated the matter. It is impos-
sible to tell now who was to blame, but it |
is learned that the engineer, fireman, and
the whole crew of the freight train was
drunk and neglectful of their duty. The
coroner of the county will make full in
vestigatiop. The wounded were all re-
moved from the county as quickly as pos
sible by the railway officials.
In the undertaking establishment of
the little village, charred and blackened
beyond semblance to humanity, lie the
disfgured remains of nine of the victims,
burned dry, and without perceptible odor.
None of them could be recognized but
Postlethwaite and his two sons, who were
found in a position which established
their identity.
Train Talk